Centennial Coal criticises police over November protest

Mark O’Sullivan, Centennial Coal’s Chairman Kenneth Moss expressed concern over handling of a GreenPeace protest in November. He had to face about six Greenpeace protesters breaking into what Centennial had been told was the “most secure room in Sydney” to tell him why they opposed plans for its Anvil Hill open-pit mine in the Upper Hunter. After the protesters were forcibly removed by police without charge, Mr Moss admitted the events of the past year had been “extremely unsatisfactory”. Last year Centennial slashed its profit forecast for the full year and revealed it would close three mines by 2008, including the Newstan operation in the Newcastle coalfield, which managing director Bob Cameron said was a “millstone around our necks”.